Nerium plant named ‘Juwel’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Nerium  plant named ‘Juwel’, characterized by its broadly upright plant habit; strong and thick branches that resist bending from the weight of the flowers; dense foliage; freely flowering habit; dark pink-colored flowers; and relative tolerance to low temperatures.

Botanical designation: Nerium oleander.

Cultivar denomination: ‘JUWEL’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Neriumplant, botanically known as Nerium oleander, grown commercially as apotted plant and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Juwel’.

The new Nerium plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Lliria. Valencia, Spain. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new Nerium plants with strong stemsthat resist bending from the weight of the numerous attractive flowers.

The new Nerium plant originated from an open-pollination, in Lliria.Valencia, Spain in June, 2011 of Nerium oleander ‘Maurin des Maures’,not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selectionof Nerium oleander as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Nerium plantwas discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plantfrom within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse environment in Lliria. Valencia, Spain in May, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Nerium plant by terminal cuttingspropagated in a controlled greenhouse environment in Lliria. Valencia,Spain since May, 2012 has shown that the unique features of this newNerium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Nerium have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Juwel’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Juwel’ as a new and distinct Nerium plant:

-   -   1. Broadly upright plant habit.    -   2. Strong and thick branches that resist bending from the weight        of the flowers.    -   3. Dense foliage.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Dark pink-colored flowers.    -   6. Relatively low temperature-tolerant.

Plants of the new Nerium differ from plants of the female parent,‘Maurin des Maures’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Nerium are more vigorous than plants of        ‘Maurin des Maures’.    -   2. Plants of the new Nerium have stronger and thicker branches        than plants of ‘Maurin des Maures’.    -   3. Plants of the new Nerium have broader leaves than plants of        ‘Maurin des Maures’.    -   4. Plants of the new Nerium flower ten days later than plants of        ‘Maurin des Maures’.    -   5. Plants of the new Nerium are more low temperature- tolerant        than plants of ‘Maurin des Maures’.

Plants of the new Nerium can be compared to plants of Nerium oleander‘Tito Poggi’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted inLliria. Valencia, Spain, plants of the new Nerium differed from plantsof ‘Tito Poggi’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Nerium had stronger and thicker branches        than plants of ‘Tito Poggi’.    -   2. Plants of the new Nerium had broader leaves than plants of        ‘Tito Poggi’.    -   3. Plants of the new Nerium were more low temperature-tolerant        than plants of ‘Tito Poggi’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Nerium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possibleto obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Nerium plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Juwel’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical flowersof ‘Juwel’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and following observationsand measurements were grown during the spring with four plants per 17-cmcontainer; plants were initially grown in an outdoor nursery andfinished in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Lliria. Valencia, Spainand under cultural practices typical of commercial Nerium production.During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 5° C.to 35° C. and night temperatures ranged from 2° C. to 25° C. Plants usedfor the photographs and description were nine months old. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Nerium oleander ‘Juwel’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Nerium oleander ‘Maurin des            Maures’, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Nerium            oleander, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 21 days at            temperatures about 25° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 25 days at            temperatures about 18° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 60 days            at temperatures about 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 100 days            at temperatures about 15° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial grown as a            potted plant; broadly upright plant habit; moderately            vigorous.        -   Branching habit.—About three main stems develop per plant.        -   Plant height.—About 34.7 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 29.8 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 24.6 cm. Diameter: Thick,            about 6 mm. Internode length: About 2.4 cm. Strength:            Strong. Aspect: About 20° from vertical. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Close to 143B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Whorled, simple.        -   Length.—About 8.4 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.8 cm.        -   Shape.—Narrowly lanceolate to elliptic.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Reticulate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to N137C.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker than N137A and 147A;            venation, close to 145A. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to 137A and 147B; venation, close to 145A.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 4 mm. Width: About 3 mm. Height:            About 2 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower form and flowering habit.—Single flowers arranged in            terminal panicles; freely flowering habit with typically            about 21 flowers developing per inflorescence; flowers face            mostly outwardly to upright.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering is continuous from the            spring through the summer until late summer in Spain; plants            begin flowering about five months after planting.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers maintain good substance for about            one week on the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 12.2 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 12.5 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 4.3 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 4.2 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.8 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm.            Shape: Lanceolate to elliptic. Color: Close to 52A and 53A;            base, close to 150A to 150B.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: About five petals arranged            in a single whorl; proximal 45% portions of the petals are            fused into a tube. Length: About 4.5 cm. Width: About 2 cm.            Shape: Roughly spatulate. Apex: Irregularly praemorse.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; velvety. Color: When opening, upper surface: In            between N57D and 61D; distally fused portion with stripes,            close to 62C to 62D; towards the base, close to 150D. When            opening, lower surface: In between N57D and 61D with            blotches, close to 53D; distally fused portion, close to            53D; towards the base, close to 150D. Fully opened, upper            surface: Close to 61D; distally fused portion with stripes,            close to 62C to 62D; towards the base, close to 150D; main            color becoming closer to 63C with development. Fully opened,            lower surface: Close to 58C with blotches, close to 53D;            distally fused portion, close to 53D and 54A; towards the            base, close to 150C to 150D.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a single whorl;            proximal 25% portions of the sepals are fused into a            campanulate-shaped calyx. Length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About            2.5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Narrowly acuminate. Margin:            Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close            to 144B to 144C; towards the margins and base, close to 185B            to 185C. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close            to 144B; towards the margins and base, close to 180A.        -   Peduncles.—Length, primary: About 7.1 cm. Diameter, primary:            About 4 mm. Length, secondary: About 4.5 cm. Diameter,            secondary: About 3 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect, primary:            Erect. Aspect, secondary: About 40° from primary peduncle            axis. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close            to 144B tinged with close to 180A. Color, lower surface:            Close to 144B.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 1.75 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to about 30° from peduncle            axis. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144B            strongly tinged with close to 180A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: About five per            flower. Filament length: About 1.2 cm. Filament color: Close            to NN155C. Anther length: About 1.5 cm. Anther shape:            Lanceolate. Anther color: Close to 155A. Pollen: Scarce.            Pollen color: Close to 155A. Pistils: Quantity: One per            flower. Pistil length: About 1.4 cm. Stigma shape:            Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 146D. Style length:            About 1.3 cm. Style color: Close to NN155C; towards the            base, close to 63C. Ovary color: Close to 145C to 145D.            Fruits and seeds: Fruit and seed development have not been            observed on plants of the new Nerium.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Nerium have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Nerium    plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Nerium have been observed    to tolerate high temperatures about 45° C. and to be hardy to USDA    Hardiness Zone 6.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Nerium plant named ‘Juwel’ asillustrated and described.